A Meaningful Part of Student Learning and Instructional Planning
Assessments allow educators to monitor student progress and the effectiveness of instructional strategies. At certain times throughout the year, students are given required assessments that fulfill legislative requirements or district guidelines.
Each required assessment has an assessment window, a time-frame during which the assessment is to be administered. Within the window, the actual assessments vary in how much time students spend testing.
Information below outlines required assessments, the assessment windows, the time students spend testing, and how the results of the assessments are used. Also indicated is whether an assessment meets a district, state, or federal requirement.
More information:
- 2025-26 PSD Assessment Calendar
- Colorado Department of Education website
- PSD Research and Evaluation web page
Accessing State Testing
- Family Portal - Pearson
- Family Portal Letter English - Spring 2026 Score Reports
- Family Portal Letter Spanish - Spring 2026 Score Reports
- Family Portal Letter Arabic - Spring 2026 Score Reports
- CollegeBoard - P/SAT
- PVUE Directions for Locating a Student's SASID
School Readiness and Early Gifted and Talented Screening
GOLD - Pre-K, Kindergarten
Dates: (Pre-K) Aug. 14-Oct. 10, Oct. 21-Jan. 30, Feb. 2-April 24
(K) Aug. 18-Oct. 15, Jan. 6-Jan. 30, Apr. 20-May 15
Administration Time: Observational throughout the window.
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids
Days Testing: 27-day window
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine kindergarten readiness.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) - Grade 2, Grades 3-12
Dates: Grades: 3-12, Oct. 6-Nov. 7
Grade 2, Grades 3-12, Feb. 9-March 10
Administration Time: 3 hours
Purpose: Gifted and Talented Identification
Days Testing: 15 day window
Required by: District
Use of Results: As part of a body of evidence to determine if students qualify for Gifted and Talented services.
Foundational Literacy
READ Act Benchmark - Secondary Literacy Intervention - Grades 6-12
READ Act Benchmark - for students on READ Plans iLit or Read180 or Achieve3000
Dates: Grades 6-12, Aug. 18-Sept. 12, Dec. 1-Jan. 23, April 27-May 14
Time for Administration: Less than 10 minutes
Purpose: Colorado READ Act
Days Testing: Windows vary
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine student acquisition of foundational reading skills. Monitor students with significant reading deficiency.
DIBELS8: Grades K-5
Dates: Grades K-5, Aug. 18-29, Dec. 3-Dec. 16, Apr. 27-May 8
Time for Administration: Less than 10 minutes
Purpose: Colorado READ Act
Days Testing: 10 day window
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine student acquisition of foundational reading skills. Determine students with significant reading deficiency.
Academic Progress
NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Language Arts and Math - Grades 2-10
Dates: Aug. 18-Sept. 12, Dec. 1-Jan. 23, Apr. 27-May 22
Time for Administration: ~1 hour per subject
Purpose: Determine academic level and growth
Days Testing: 28 day window
Required by: District
Use of Results: Measure student performance and growth. Screen for academic programs and placement.
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) - Grades 3-8, 11
CMAS: Language Arts/Math (Gr. 3-8), Social Studies (Gr. 4, 7 sample), Science (Gr. 5, 8, 11)
Dates: Apr. 6-Apr. 24
Time for Administration: Approximately 2.5 - 5.5 hours, depending on subject and grade level.
Purpose: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and State Accountability
Days Testing: Varies
Required by: State and Federal
Use of Results: Measure student performance and growth in the Colorado Academic Standards. Screen for academic programs and placement.
Preparatory Exam PSAT- Grade 9 - 10
Date: April 13-24
Time for Administration: 2.25 hours
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids
Days Testing: 10 day window
Required by: State
Use of Results: Measure student performance and growth in the Colorado Academic Standards. Screen for academic programs and placement.
College Entrance Exam SAT - Grade 11
Date: April 13-24
Time for Administration: 2.25 hours
Purpose: Colorado Achievement Plan for Kids
Days Testing: 10 day window
Required by: State
Use of Results: Determine postsecondary readiness. Measure student performance and growth in the Colorado Academic Standards. Screen for academic programs and placement.
Assessments for Diverse Learners
WIDA ACCESS - Grades K-12 Multilingual Learners
Dates: Jan. 12-Feb. 13
Time for Administration: 4 sections averaging from 35-60 minutes each
Purpose: English Language Acquisition Proficiency and Growth
Days Testing: 25 day window
Required by: Federal
Use of Results: Measures ML students' progress in acquiring academic English in the areas of: social and instructional language, language of science, language of social studies, language of language arts and the language of math.
Dynamic Learning Maps & CoAlt (Alternate to CMAS and P/SAT) - Grades 3-11
Dynamic Learning Maps English Language Arts & Math (Gr. 3-11)
CoAlt Science (Gr.5, 8, 11) and CoAlt Social Studies (Gr. 4, 7 sample)
For students with a disability qualifying for alternate assessments
| Dates for grades 3-8 DLM: Apr. 6-Apr. 24 Dates for grades 9-11 DLM: Apr. 13-Apr. 24 Dates for grades 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 CoAlt: Apr. 6- Apr. 24 | Days Testing: Varies |
| Time for Administration: Varies based on student need | Required by: Federal |
| Purpose: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and State Accountability | Use of Results: Measure student progress toward meeting Extended Evidence Outcomes of the Colorado Academic Standards. |
PROGRESS (Alternate to NWEA MAP Assessment) - Grades 2-10
For students with a disability qualifying for alternate assessments
Dates: 1st Quarter and 4th Quarter
Time for Administration: Observational throughout the window
Purpose: Determine academic level and growth
Days Testing: Varies
Required by: District
Use of Results: Measure student progress toward meeting Extended Evidence Outcomes of the Colorado Academic Standards